Gulf vaulting to new heights

By BART O'CONNELL

BROOKSVILLE - A few times a year, a bunch of students in bright green shirts surround soapy cars near New Port Richey. They're raising money, like many high school programs are forced to do.

The Gulf track squads need a little extra. The rise of their programs appears fueled by how high their young pole vaulters can elevate in a field event that's hardly cheap to take up.

``Like, 390-something dollars for a new pole,'' junior T.J. Dickey said. ``We just got a new one, so we're trying to get used to it. This is only our third day on it, but we're already increasing our numbers.''

The Buccaneers don't break too many poles these days, but school records is another subject.

Led by senior Michelle Mendonca, Gulf qualified four pole vaulters for region at Thursday's Class 2A-District 9 meet at Hernando. Mendonca is the most-likely challenger at the state level, and was one of only two female contenders at districts.

Dickey and sophomore Jason deBeaumont are the future, with goals to join the state's elite pole vaulters. Though both cleared 11 feet on Thursday, deBeaumont won the district title by virtue of having fewer misses. Teammate Davis Dorsey (8-6) finished third.

Collectively, the Bucs finished fourth in the boys and girls standings. Aside from 1,600- and 3,200- meter district champ Tommy Accaria, whom Coach Tom Cain calls the anchor of the program, Gulf typically struggles for success in their meets.

That could change if they continue monopolizing an event such as pole vaulting. Dickey and deBeaumont are very enthusiastic about the event and have to be, considering the dangers and shear strangeness of the sport.

``I used to pick up old broomsticks as a kid and run around and jump on them. For real,'' deBeaumont said. ``When I finally saw pole vaulting the first time, I said I really want to do that.''

Dickey credits two people for his start. His father, Kenny, who vaulted 12 feet in high school, and Mendonca, who inspired him just as much.

``When I was in ninth grade, I was running the 400 and I saw Michelle pole vault, and I thought that could be fun,'' Dickey said. ``She's taught me almost everything I know about it.''

The pair have improved in the past year. Dickey has had a 1-foot improvement, and deBeaumont, the lankier of the two, consistently vaults 2 feet higher than he did a season ago. Each say they think 13 feet is attainable.

The progression is just what deBeaumont needed after taking a dangerous spill last year.

``I kind of had a second thought when I bent the pole for the first time,'' deBeaumont said. ``I angled the pole the wrong way and just bent it in half. I totally let go and landed right in the pit.''

Accidents aside, they plan to make Gulf the county's pole vaulting powerhouse. Currently, Hudson senior Travis Miller and Mitchell junior Anthony Napolitano are the class of the county in a sport still trying to gain widespread acceptance.

``A lot of coaches don't want to bother with it,'' Cain said. ``There's a lot of technique, a lot of skill involved. It's not an easy sport to coach.''

The focus now shifts to the Region 3 meet, and whether or not Mendonca can return to top form. She has eclipsed the 10-foot mark, but she won the Sunshine Athletic Conference meet with an 8-6 jump and improved on that by a foot Thursday.

Dickey and deBeaumont look up to her. While it's uncertain if they're ready to contend at the state level, they appear close.

``I hope we can base the program on us, have our teammates look to us and base all their workouts on what we do,'' Dickey said. ``We always try as hard as we can no matter what.''